HMS Cavalier

Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what export licences (a) currently apply to HMS Cavalier and (b) have been applied for; [24416]

(2) what valuation has been placed on HMS Cavalier. [24415]

Mr. Fisher:
If HMS Cavalier were to be exported from the UK it would first require an export licence from the Department of Trade and Industry. Depending on its value, it might also need one from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. It is not yet clear whether the vessel requires an export licence from my Department since there is no firm value for the ship. Whether or not licences have been applied for is commercially

Film Festivals

Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the film festivals (a) he and (b) the Minister for Film and Tourism have attended since 1 May 1997. [25550]

Mr. Chris Smith:
I have attended the Cannes and London film festivals since 1 May 1997. My right, hon. Friend the Minister for Film and Tourism has attended the Cannes, Venice, Edinburgh, Dinard, London, Bristol and Sundance film festivals.

Ministerial Engagements

Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many official engagements the Minister for Sport has undertaken since his appointment (a) in London and (b) outside London. [22669]

Mr. Banks:
Since my appointment as Sports Minister, I have attended 81 official engagements in London, and 23 official engagements outside London.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Racial Incidents

Mr. Allan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by police area, the number of reported racial incidents in 1989 and each year since 1994 for which figures are available. [24664]

Mr. Michael:
Racial incidents figures are submitted by each police force to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary at the end of each financial year. The incidents are recorded under the Association of Chief Police Officers' definition of a racial incident:

"any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigating officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motivation, or any incident which includes an allegation of racial motivation made by any person".

Animal Experiments

Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what experimentation procedures are undergone by animals classified as experiencing the most severe category of suffering and pain. [24418]

Mr. George Howarth:
Information on the assessment of severity is provided in the Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, sections 4.4 to 4.20. Section 4.11 states that:

"Procedures will be regarded as being of substantial severity if they result in a major departure from the animals' usual state of health or well-being. These are likely to include acute toxicity procedures where significant morbidity or death is an endpoint; some efficacy tests of antimicrobial agents and vaccines; some models of disease and major surgery where significant post-operative suffering may result".

Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were classified as experiencing the most severe category of pain and suffering during animal experiments in each of the last three years. [24417]

Mr. George Howarth:
Figures for the number of animals which suffer adverse effects in each of the severity bandings are not collected.

Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) announced and (b) unannounced visits have been made by inspectors to Porton Down under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for each year from 1990 to date. [24833]

Mr. George Howarth:
The number of visits (a) to the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) establishment at Porton Down, (b) to Departments within CDB that were by appointment and (c) to Departments on an unannounced basis were as follows: